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PAMANTASAN NG COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA AND URBAN PLANNING

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

SITE & USER

ANALYSIS
ALNIE KHAYZER HAYUDINI, RLA, RMP
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SITE
ANALYSIS
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Site (contextual) analysis is a Overview

predesign research activity which
focuses on the existing, imminent
and potential conditions on and
around a project site. An inventory of
all the pressures, forces and
situations and their interaction at the
property where the project is to be
built.

Its major role in design is to of

inform us about the site prior to
beginning design concepts so that
our early thinking about the building
can incorporate meaningful
responses to external conditions.
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Typical issues to
be addressed: drainage
shape
patterns

significant
on-site
zoning and features traffic
location
setbacks (buildings, surrounding
vegetation,
etc.)

neighborhood
size views climate contours
patterns
Information needed Page 5

for a site analysis

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LOCATION May include state

map and city map
showing location of
site in relation to
city as a whole. City
map may also show
distances and travel
times to related
functions in other
p a r t s o f t h e c i t y.
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NEIGHBORHOOD Presents the immediate

surroundings of the site
CONTEXT for perhaps three to
four blocks beyond the
s i t e b o u n d a r y. T h i s m a y
be extended further to
include an important
factor or because of the
scale of the project.
Map may show existing
and projected uses,
buildings, zoning and
any other conditions
that may have an
impact on our project.
SIZE AND Documents all the dimensional aspects
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of the site including boundaries,

ZONING location and dimension of easements
and present zoning classification with
all its dimensional implications
(setbacks, height restrictions, parking
formulas, allowed uses, etc.) and
buildable area (land available for the
project after all setbacks and
easements have been subtracted ).
Analysis should also document
the present and projected zoning
trends, plans by the city
transportation department to widen
roads (change rights of way) and any
other trend that might affect our
project in the future.
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LEGAL This category presents

the legal description of
t h e p r o p e r t y, c o v e n a n t s
and restrictions,
present ownership,
present governmental
jurisdiction (city or
county) and any future
projections that may
influence the project
(such as the fact that
the site is in a future
city urban renewal area
or within the boundaries
of eventual university
expansion).
P a g e 10

NATURAL FEATURES
Includes contours,
drainage patterns,
soil type and bearing
c a p a c i t y, t r e e s ,
rocks, ridges, peaks,
valleys, pools and
ponds.
MAN-MADE FEATURES Documents on site P a g e 11

conditions such as
buildings, walls, drives, curb
cuts, hydrants, power poles
and paving patterns. Off site
features may include
characteristics of
surrounding development
such as scale, roof forms,
fenestration patterns,
setbacks, materials, colors,
open spaces, visual axes,
paving patterns, landscaping
materials and patterns,
porosity and assertiveness
of wall forms and
accessories and details.
P a g e 12

CIRCULATION Presents all vehicular and

pedestrian movement patterns
on and around the site. Data
includes duration and peak
loads for surrounding
vehicular traffic and
pedestrian movement, bus
stops, site access edges,
traffic generators, service
truck access and intermittent
traffic (parades, fire truck
routes, concerts at nearby
a u d i t o r i u m ) . Tr a f f i c a n a l y s i s
should include future
projections insofar as they
can be made.
UTILITIES This category deals with the P a g e 13

type, capacity and location

of all utilities on, adjacent to
a n d n e a r t h e s i t e . Ty p i c a l
utility types include
e l e c t r i c i t y, g a s , s e w e r,
water and telephone. Where
utilities are some distance
from the site, those
dimensions should be given.
It is useful to document
the depths of utilities when
they are underground as well
as the pipe material
a n d d i a m e t e r.
P a g e 14

SENSORY Documents the visual,

audible, tactile and olfactory
a s p e c t s o f t h e s i t e . Ty p i c a l
issues are views to and from
the site and noise generated
around the site. It is of value
to record the type, duration,
intensity and quality (positive
or negative) of the sensory
issues. This often involves
making some judgments
relation about the relative
desirability of the different
sensory conditions on and
around the site.
HUMAN & Includes an analysis of the surrounding P a g e 15

neighborhood in terms of cultural,

CULTURAL psychological, behavioral and
sociological aspects. This category deals
with the activities, human relationships
and patterns of human characteristics.
Issues here might involve population
a g e , e t h n i c p a t t e r n s , d e n s i t y,
employment patterns, values, income and
family structure.
Also of importance are any scheduled or
informal activities in the neighborhood
such as festivals, parades or crafts fairs.
Va n d a l i s m a n d c r i m e p a t t e r n s , a l t h o u g h
not pleasant, are of value to designers
when conceptualizing site zoning and
building design.
Presents all the pertinent climate P a g e 16

CLIMATE conditions such as rainfall,

snowfall,
humidity and temperature variations
o v e r t h e m o n t h s o f t h e y e a r. A l s o
included are
prevailing wind directions, sun-path
and vertical sun angles as they
change over the year and potential
natural catastrophes such as
tornados, hurricanes and
earthquakes. It is helpful to know
not only how climate conditions vary
over a typical year but also what the
critical conditions might be
(maximum daily rainfall, peak wind
velocity).
DIAGRAMMING SITE P a g e 17

INFORMATION

Example of a Site
Analysis: A Proposed
new Office building,
Ta l l a h a s s e , F l o r i d a
P a g e 18

Location of the city in a

state or region
` P a g e 19

Location of the
neighborhood in the city
` P a g e 20

Distance and travel hours between

the site and related locations
P a g e 21

Location of
site in the
neighborhood
P a g e 22

Existing
zoning
P a g e 23

Projected
future
zoning
P a g e 24

Existing
use
P a g e 25

Projected
future
use
P a g e 26

Age and
condition of
existing
buildings
P a g e 27

Existing use of
exterior spaces
P a g e 28

Projected
future use of
exterior spaces
P a g e 29

Pedestrians &
vehicular
traffic
generators
P a g e 30

Vehicular
circulation
patterns
P a g e 31

Pedestrian
circulation
patterns
P a g e 32

Significant
architectural
patterns
P a g e 33

Special
classifications
P a g e 34

Particular
buildings of value
P a g e 35

Sun shadows
pattern
P a g e 36

Contours
P a g e 37

Major land features

P a g e 38

Surface
drainage
patterns
P a g e 39

Vegetation
P a g e 40

Boundaries
and site area
P a g e 41

Right of way
P a g e 42

Easements
P a g e 43

Zoning and setbacks

P a g e 44

Buildable area
P a g e 45

Site coverage and

height limit
P a g e 46

Site coverage and

height limit
P a g e 47

Legal and covenants

P a g e 48

Ownership and
jurisdiction
P a g e 49

Contours
P a g e 50

Major land features

P a g e 51

Surface drainage
pattern
P a g e 52

Soil
P a g e 53

Vegetation
P a g e 54

On-site features
P a g e 55

Off-site
features
P a g e 56

Pedestrian
P a g e 57

Vehicular
P a g e 58

Power, gas,
telephone
P a g e 59

Water and sewer

P a g e 60

Views into
the site
P a g e 61

Views
from the
site
P a g e 62

View
qualities
from various
site position
P a g e 63

Points of interest
in the site
P a g e 64

Noise
P a g e 65
Neighborhood
population
P a g e 66
Negative
activities
P a g e 67

Neighborhood
outlook about
the project
P a g e 68

Temperature
P a g e 69

Relative
Humidity &
Wind
P a g e 70

Solar
Altitude &
Azimuth
P a g e 71

ILLUSTRATING
SITE
ANALYSIS
INFORMATION
Accuracy of the forms in terms of P a g e 72
Diagrammatic shapes
placement over referent drawings
Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram
P a g e 73
Paths of line work Diagrammatic shapes

Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram

P a g e 74
Line thickness Va r i o u s i n l i n e t h i c k n e s s

Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram

P a g e 75
Choice of color or tone Number of color or tone

Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram

Relationship between diagram and P a g e 76
Relation between diagram and border
referent drawing
Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram

Relationship between
diagrams
P a g e 77
Arrowheads

Initial diagram Refined diagram

P a g e 78
Diagram simplification

Initial diagram Refined diagram Initial diagram Refined diagram

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USER
ANALYSIS
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Understanding user
experience in design is
considered crucial for
innovation (Koskinen,
Mattelmaki, & Battarbee,
2003).

User research highlights

new opportunities, uncovers
unmet user needs, identifies
issues, and inspires new
solutions. The insights from
user research lead to
practical ideas for
innovation.
P a g e 85

TARGET Basic information needed to

USERS properly include user in design

movement /
tasks activities circulation
patterns

tools & furnishings

equipment & furniture
SPACES
P a g e 86

Other useful information that you also need

organization (macro & micro)

character & interest

schedule

percentage by (i.e. age bracket, sex, gender, relationship status, etc.)

physical features

vision and mission

Image from: http://escuelataller.org.ph/the-school/our-skills-workshops/carpentry/
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*Images used in this presentation is not the property of the presenter.

Thank you & Reference/s:

• White. E. (1983). SITE ANALYSIS: DIAGRAMMING INFORMATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN.
Architectural Media Ltd. ISBN 1.928643-04-3.
• Lin. M. (1983). ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING TECHNIQUES – A COLOR REFERENCE.
International Thomson Publishing. ISBN 0-442-25953-0.

keep safe.